(a) The Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, one member representing the Office of Emergency Services, one member representing the Division of the State Architect in the Department of General Services, one member representing the California Building Standards Commission, one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. The commission shall elect annually from its membership its own chairperson and vice chairperson and may replace them with other commissioners by majority vote. Commission members shall be residents of California.

(b) A quorum shall consist of 11 members if there are no vacancies, or else a majority of the members of the commission at the time.

(c) The Legislature declares that the individuals appointed to the commission are intended to represent the professions of architecture, planning, fire protection, public utilities, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, geology, seismology, local government, insurance, social services, emergency services, and the Legislature and that such representation serves the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that for purposes of persons who hold this office the specified professions are tantamount to and constitute the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103.

(d) The commission exists as a separate unit within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, and has the functions of prescribing policy, holding meetings and setting dates of the meetings, conducting investigations, and holding hearings insofar as those powers are given by statute to the commission.

(e) The decisions and actions of the commission, with respect to exercising its authority and carrying out its duties under this chapter, or any other applicable law, are not subject to review by the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing, but are final within the limits provided by this chapter.

(f) The Legislature further declares that the highest level of service that the individuals appointed to the commission can provide to the residents of California is to offer professional, unbiased, scientifically based advice to the Governor and the Legislature. To maintain this quality of service, it is imperative that the commission retain its functional autonomy and access to the Governor and the Legislature. As such, the commission shall retain its existing authority to issue reports, publications, and literature, as well as to sponsor legislation, and to take official positions on proposed state and federal legislation.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 147, Sec. 7. (SB 1039) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 23 of Ch. 147.)